Signal-box.



T. H. S. CONE.

SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

at Co'meg THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

THOMAS H. S. CONE, 0F BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY.

SIGNAL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed December 18, 1912. Serial No. 737,420.

ticularly to that specific class known as the automatic or wall-box employed in public buildings and institutions wherein the S13;- naling mechanism is set in motion by the 7 manual operation of a. lever or the like.

In the general type of the so-called automatic or wall-box now in use, the signaling mechanism is started or set in motion by means of the operation or pulling down of a lever or hook housed within the casing, access .to the lever being had through the destruction of a pane or panel of glass located in the front portion or door of the casing. It has been found that this particular arrangement, while proving more or less efficient in reducing trifling with the signal to a minimum, is nevertheless unsatisfactory or objectionable owing to the tendency of some of the fragments or pieces of the glass to fly outwardly from the boX when the pane or panel is broken thereby frequently resulting in injuries to the person breaking the same, while other fragments fall back into the casing interfering with a rendering inoperative the signal mechanism. Furthermore, it has been found that in addition to these objectionable features, particles or fragments of the broken glass adhere to or remain within the door or front of the casing, the sharp and'ragged edges protruding therefrom becoming a menace andcausing lacerations of the hand and wrist of the person operating the signal when the hand is inserted within the casing to manipulate the lever or other signal starting means.

The object of the present invention is to provide a signal 'boX which, while primarily intended as an automatic or wall-box, is also adaptable to general use in connection with signal systems; which will embody all of the advantageous features of the automatic or wall-boxes and wherein the possibility of the slightest injury to the person operating and using the signal is absolutely eliminated.

,My invention further contemplates a signal lOOX of the character mentioned which will be fool-proof in so far as that is possible in devices of that character and which, when the device is rendered operative by the specific means I employ for that purpose, cannot again be rendered inoperative by those unauthorized so to do.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and then point out more particularly the elements of novelty therein in the annexed claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signal box embodying my invention, the means for retaining the lever looking device being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation on the line AA of Fig. 1 with a portion of the side of the boX cut away to disclose the device shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in both views of my invention, 7 is a casing of any suitable size and configuration for the purpose, provided with a relatively movable front portion, preferably in the form of a swinging or hin ed door as shown at 8 and which is adapted to be secured to the wall of a building or other Suitable support such as a post or the like. The casing 7 is further provided at, each end with an interiorly threaded boss 9 or 10 to receive the cable carrying pipe shown at 11, the cable being connected up to the alarm or signal mechanism in the customary manner, any suitable mechanism being adaptable for use in connection with my invention.

The signaling mechanism (not shown) is preferably mounted on the inner side or face of the movable portion 8 of the casing 7 the driving or operating. shaft of the mechanism eXtending or projecting through an aperture therein and terminating in a square shoulder to which the manually-operated lever or hook 12 for setting the signaling mechanism in motion is mounted and keyed thereto by means of a plate 13, preferably of the shape shown, and which is provided with an ear or downwardly and inwardly extending projection 14. adapted to engage the lower edge of the lever, the said plate being secured to the lever 12 by a screw 15 and registering with the square shoulder of the signaling mechanism shaft, the lever 12 and plate 13 being positively locked against displacement by the screw 16 passing through the said plate and lever and threaded into the shaft of the operating mechanism, the lever 12 being thereby firmly clamped between the said plate 13 and the enlarged portion of the operating shaft of the signal mechanism.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the signaling'mechanism may be set in operation by grasping the thumb or fingerpiece 17 of the lever or hook 12 and pulling the latter down as far as it will go and then releasing it, the lever thereby being returned to its normal position of rest by the operation of the signaling mechanism and the rotation of the driving shaft to which it is secured, a stop therefor in the form of a stud 18, formed integral with or otherwise secured to and exteriorly of the movable portion of the casing, being provided, which is slotted to receive the lever as shown at 19 to limit the further upward movement thereof upon the completion of the signal and the stopping of the signaling mecha nism.

Preferably formed integral with and located on the exterior of the casing below the lever 12 is a boss or raised portion 20 having a vertical cylindrical bore 21 and a longitudinal cylindrical bore 22 running from the interior of the movable member to said vertical bore 21, the specific purposes of which will hereinafter be apparent.

Rigidly secured at one end to the inner wall of the movable portion 8 of the casing 7 and preferably above the opening of the longitudinal bore 22 in the boss 20, I pro vide an arm 23 preferably offset from the vertical as herein shown, of spring metal or other suitable resilient material, the said arm 23 terminating in a free end opposite the bore 22 and being provided with a pin 24 movable longitudinally within said bore 22, and of a sufficient length to extend there through and abut against the opposite-wall of and close the vertical bore 21, the pin 24 being normally held in that position by the tension of the spring armi23.

Forthe purpose of locking the signalstarting lever 12 against accidental manipulation and further 'to reduce the tendency to trifle therewith to a minimum, I have found it desirable to provide a locking means which, while serving the purpose stated, will also permit the prompt and instant use or operationoof the signaling mechanism in an emergency. Tothis end I provide a rod or bar 25, preferably cylindrical in form and made of glass, slate or any other suitable fragile or brittle substance, which is inserted in the vertical bore or passage 21 from the bottom thereof, the pin 24 being withdrawn against the tension of the spring arm 23 from its normal position within the bore 22 by means of the thumb piece or button, 28 arranged on the free end of the arm 23. The withdrawal of the pin 24, it will be observed opens the passage or vertical bore 21 so that the rod or bar 25 may be drawn or moved freely therethrough to enable its upper end to register with and become seated in the cylindrical opening 26.0f the boss 27 preferably formed integral with and upon the upper surface of side of the lever 12, and midway between the ends thereof, the rod being locked or held in position therein by the pin 24 which, when released, returns to its normal position within the bore 22, under the tension of the opening arm 23, forming a support or seat upon which the end of the rod 25 within the bore 21 rests and efi'ectively closing access to the bore 21 and preventing the removal of the rod 25 without the destruction thereof.

By the arrangement I employ in carrying my invention into effect, it will be noted that it will be impossible to pull down or manipulate the signal-starting lever 12 without encompassing the destruction of the locking rod 25 which, by reason of its formation from glass, slate or some other easily broken or brittle substance, may be destroyed by a comparatively slight blow of the side of the hand without any possibility of injury resulting therefrom. Furthermore, the means I use for locking or holding the rod 25 in engagement with the lever 12 and within the bore 21 makes it impossible to remove the rod 25 without breaking, or, when broken, prevents its replacement without opening the signal box which is locked by any suitable means usually employed for the purpose (not shown), there by obviating tampering with the signal by unauthorized persons.

1 have described my invention with reference to the particular details of structure shown in the accompanying drawings, but I desire to have it understood that the same may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Ina signal box, the combination of signal-sending mechanism mounted therein,

an actuating lever mounted exteriorly of' below said lever and provided with a vertical bore extending therethrough, and a lateral bore communicating with the interior of said box and with said vertical bore, said rod of frangible material being adapted to be inserted through said vertical bore in said latter boss, and the upper end thereof seated within the boss on said lever, and a spring-pressed pin mounted on the interior of said box and movable within said lateral bore to support said rod in engagement with the boss formed on said lever and prevent the removal of said rod Without encompassing its destruction.

2. In a signal box, the combination of a signal actuating lever mounted exteriorly of said box, a stop for limiting the movement of said lever in one direction and means for normally locking said lever against movement in the opposite direction, said means comprising a boss formed on said lever, a boss positioned on said box below said lever and provided with a vertical bore extending therethrough and a lateral bore communicating with the interior of said box and with said vertical bore, a pin arranged for movement Within said lateral bore, a spring mounted on the interior of said box and connected to said pin to normally maintain said pin within said bore, a frangible rod and means for manually moving said pin within said lateral bore to permit the insertion of said rod through said vertical bore whereby the upper end of said rod may be positioned within the boss formed on said lever, the re-seating of the pin within said lateral bore providing a support for the other end of said frangible rod and securing it against removal without encompassing its destruction.

3. In a signal box, the combination of a signal actuating lever mounted exteriorly of said box, a stop for limiting the movement of said lever in one direction, and means for normally locking said lever against movement in the opposite direction, said means comprising a boss formed on said lever, a boss positioned on said box below said lever and provided with a vertical bore extending therethrough and a lateral bore communicating with the interior of said box and with said vertical bore, a pin ar ranged for movement within said lateral bore, a spring mounted on the interior of said box and connected to'said pin to normally maintain said pin within said bore, a frangible rod, and means for manually moving said pin Within said lateral bore to permit the insertion of said rod through said vertical bore, whereby the upper end of said rod may be positioned within the boss formed on said lever, the re-seating of the pin within said lateral bore providing a support for the other end of said frangible rod and securing it against removal without encompassing its destruction; and means for manipulating said actuating lever, said means comprising an extension formed at right angles to the plane of the body of the lever whereby, upon the destruction of the frangible rod, the said lever may be pulled down to start the signal-sending mechanism.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing I witnesses.

THOMAS H. S. CONE.

Witnesses:

P. FRANK SONNEK, WM. C. DUNN.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0." 

